Dr. Garbiñe
Vidal-Torreira to lead professional networking community for women
C
ONWAY, Ark. (March 27, 2024) — Hendrix
College has named Associate Professor of Spanish Dr. Garbiñe Vidal-Torreira the
new Faculty Director of the Hendrix Women’s Leadership Community.
The Women’s Leadership Community was established
in 2022 with the support of Heather Gardner ’93, a
member of the Hendrix College Board of Trustees, and her sister, Mary Gardner
Burrelle ’95, to provide resources for bringing together female Hendrix
students and alumnae to create a network that
offers leadership development programming, career guidance, mentoring, and
internships. It fosters a community of support by connecting individuals
through personal and professional networks to combat the challenges women often
encounter in their work-life trajectories.
“We are so fortunate to have Dr.
Vidal-Torreira lead this exciting program for our current female students and
Hendrix alumnae, and I look forward to seeing it thrive under her leadership,”
said Hendrix President Karen Petersen. “We are grateful to Heather Gardner and
Mary Gardner Burrelle for their generosity and vision.”
Vidal-Torreira joined the Hendrix
faculty in 2013. She earned her Ph.D. in Spanish with a graduate specialization
in women’s and gender studies from University of Nebraska-Lincoln, where she
taught in the English Department’s Women’s and Gender Studies Program. Her
research focuses on contemporary Spanish women writers and has analyzed their
works in published literary journal articles and book chapters.
“I am excited to empower and connect
women at all stages of their careers, from our Hendrix students to our alumnae,”
said Vidal-Torreira. “Women can empower other women to find the courage to
dream bigger. Women can provide the room for other women to take up space. We
can also seek to normalize imperfection and approach it with a growth mindset.
For instance, I often tell my students I have a folder where I store rejections
from prior projects as a reminder that growth often comes from failure. Women
leaders, presenting themselves proudly and visibly as they are, can offer a
wide array of models for others to follow.”
Vidal-Torreira’s tenure follows the
community’s inaugural faculty director, Associate Provost for Faculty
Development and Professor of Psychology Dr. Leslie Templeton. Templeton
provided leadership and structure for the program’s steering committee and
established programmatic goals to create networking and professional
opportunities for community members.
“Our community is grateful for Dr.
Templeton’s leadership in launching this special program and ensuring its
long-term success,” said Petersen.
About Hendrix College
Founded in 1876,
Hendrix College is featured in Colleges That Change Lives: 40 Schools That Will
Change the Way You Think About Colleges and celebrated among the country’s
leading liberal arts colleges for academic quality, engaged learning
opportunities and career preparation, vibrant campus life, and value. The
Hendrix College Warriors compete in 21 NCAA Division III sports. Hendrix has
been affiliated with the United Methodist Church since 1884. Learn more at www.hendrix.edu.
“…
Through engagement that links the classroom with the world, and a commitment to
diversity, inclusion, justice, and sustainable living, the Hendrix community
inspires students to lead lives of accomplishment, integrity, service, and
joy.” —Hendrix College Statement of Purpose